Hand-grenade



A. G. BERGMAN.

HAND GRENADE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.4. 91s.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

INVENTOR r earns rarnn re.

.AXEL G. IBERGMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO ORDNANCE ENGINEERING CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK,'N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HAND-GRENADE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

Application filed August 4, 1916. Serial No. 113,048.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AxnL G. BERGMAN, a subject of the King of Sweden, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand-Grenades, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hand grenades, and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

In the various types of hand grenade heretofore employed some means has been provided for locking the firing mechanism so that during shipment, or in handling prior to actual use, the firing mechanism is prevented from accidental action. Such mechanism has usually comprised a pin or the like engaging one of the operative parts, which pin has been designed to be removed prior to actual throwing of the grenade. Removal of the pin has released the mechanism so that upon impact the grenade has exploded. Many premature explosions have taken place with loss of life or injury due to the accidental dropping of the grenade either before or during the act of throwing; some accidents have occurred where the grenade has been inadvertently brought into contact with a portion of the trench or another soldier.

According to the present invention I provide a mechanism which will insure against premature explosion from the causes mentioned or others of like character.

To this end I provide a device which renders the firing mechanism inoperative for a certain predetermined period after release of the unlocking detent or other safety device. If the grenade is subjected to shock or impact during this period it is prevented from exploding. The preferred time of suspension of action after the release of the safety device is from a second to a second and a half, it being found that a grenade will fall to the ground or contact with another object in a great majority of instances in considerably less than this time. The period, however, should not be unduly extended since the device would thereby be prevented from firing during close engagements, or when the throw is short.

My invention also includes a quickly releasable hand-actuated device adapted for operation during the act of throwing, so that the grenade may remain in safety position until the throw is actually made. The invention also includes certain other improvements which will behereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one form of the invention,

Figure 1 is a central vertical section of a grenade, embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation.

Fig. 3 is a view of the safety device taken at right angles to Fig. 1. v

Fig. 4 is a plan of the safety device.

In the drawings I have shown my invention as applied to a type of hand grenade comprising a cylinder A adapted to contain a charge of suitable explosive. Extending into the cylinder is a smaller cylinder B having at its bottom a percussion cap (I. At the upper part of the cylinder is located a partition I) through which extends a rod E, the lower end F of which is pointed to constitute the firing pin. Between the partition D and the lower end of the firing pin is a spring G acting against a fixed washer H on the pin. The parts normally occupy the positions shown in Fig. 1 with the pin retracted. To hold the pin in its retracted position it is provided with a bracket-shaped arm I adapted to lie above a similar arm J pivoted on a cross pin K. Between the two arms is usually located a steel ballL which fits in concavities formed in the opposing faces of the arms. The arm J is continued above the pivotal connection and is provided with a weight M having a recess N at its top within which extends a safety pin 0.

So long as the safety pin 0 is in its recess the arm J cannot oscillate in any direction. Consequently any impact or shock to which the device is subjected will not release the firing pin. When the pin 0 is retracted, however, the arms I and J are held together by the tension of the spring G acting through the ball L. In order to release the parts it is necessary that the firing pin move upward slightly sufficient to permit disengagement of the arm I with the ball L,

The parts are so proportioned that the motion of the grenade through the air is not suflicient to effect this disengagement. Upon impact, however, of any part of the grenade the weight M is more or less violently tilted, and the force thus exerted is suflicient to raise the firing pin enough to disengage the arm I. Preferably the pivotal connection between the arm J and pin K is in the nature of a universal joint (as the knife-edge connection shown), so that the arm is permitted to tilt in practically any direction.

According to the present invention I introduce an additional safety device designed to prevent the operation of the firing pin from impact or any other cause for a predetermined time. This period, as hereinafter explained, preferably starts at the manual release by the operator of a controlling -means which is'by preference operated during the act of throwing.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawing the pin 0 is formed with or carries a rack or ratchet P which engages a small pinion Q fixed to a gear wheel R which engages a second pinion S fixed to a gear wheel T, which in turn engages a third pinion U fixed to a gear wheel V, meshing with a pinion W on the shaft of which is mounted a plate or plates X constituting a fan. The pin is normally urged upwardly by a spring, such as Y. The device is preferably mounted in a frame Z, and the spring in this case reacts against the frame at one end and against a head A at the other end.

Vhen in the safety position the pin is depressed with the spring under compression, as shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the pin is released, the spring Y urges it upwardly and the train of gears is set in motion, with the result that the fan X is rotated and the pin is thereby retarded in its upward movement. The length of time which is required for the pin to disengage the weight M may be predetermined as desired. Usually it will be from one to one and one-half seconds.

I provide a means for maintaining the pin in its depressed position, and such means may take various forms, but that preferred by me is shown in the drawing. As shown, it comprises a catch B, the upper end of which C is hooked to engage a portion of the grenade, and the lower end of which D is adapted to be engaged by a lock comprising button E mounted on a rotatable collar F surrounding the grenade. Preferably there is interposed between the catch B Pref- 1 gages the fan X or other part of the device to prevent rotation of the train of wheels. If the catch device is in position there are hence in effect two detents which prevent the rising of the pin 0.

For transportation purposes the collar F is drilled, as is also the casing, to receive a cotter pin 1, so as to prevent unlocking by movement of the button E.

In use the grenades will usually be transported to the trenches and when piled therein the pins 1 will be removed, so that they are then in condition to be unlocked by manipulating the buttons E. The device is then ready for immediate operation. When it is desired to throw the grenade, the user will grasp it by the handle, and with the thumb engaging the button E move the latter in either direction. This may be conveniently done through the backward movement preceding the actual throw. As the hand of the user still grasps the catch B, the safety mechanism is not able to operate. As soon as the throw is made, however, the spring G urges the catch outwardly, and as soon as it is moved a short distance the hook C disengages and the catch is thrown bodily by the spring away from the grenade. This releases the pin 0 and fan, and the pin starts to move outwardly under the action of its spring. If by any accident, such as the user being shot during the throw, the

grenade is dropped, or if the grenade is struck against another person or against the side of the trench, and the catch inadvertently released, the firing device will not op erate. The pin will merely move out and it can be restored to safety position by adjusting another catch such as B in place, over the top of the pin 0, the latter being thereby pressed in. In normal use, however, the period of inaction or safety position will elapse during the movement of the grenade through the air, so that upon impact in the opposing trench or firing line, the explosion takes place. A very important element of safety is hence introduced in the use of these devices.

lVhile I have shown and described one form of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto, since various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus other retarding devices than that illustrated may be used, and other forms of catch, and the device may be applied to other types of grenade.

What I claim is 1. A grenade comprising a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device therefor, means for moving the releasing device to releasing position, and time-controlled means acting to retard movement of the releasing device toward releasing position.

2. A grenade comprising a firing mecha nism of the impact type, a spring-actuated releasing device, and time-controlled means geared to the releasing device and acting to cause the latter to move gradually and slowly to its releasing position.

3. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism, a releasing device therefor, a catch for said releasing device, and a quickly operable means for manually releasing said catch.

4. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device therefor comprising a movable pin, a spring for moving said pin, and a timecontrolled retarding device adapted to retard the releasing action of said pin for a predetermined period.

5. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releas ing device therefor comprising a movable pin, a spring for moving said pin, a timecontrolled retarding device adapted to retard the releasing action of said pin for a predetermined period, and a catch overlying said pin.

6. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device therefor comprising a movable pin, a spring for moving said pin, a timecontrolled retarding device adapted to retard the releasing action of said pin for a predetermined period, and a self-detachable catch overlying said pin.

7. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device for said firing mechanism, and an automatically detachable catch adapted to prevent the operation of said releasing mechanism. I

8. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device 'for said firing mechanism, an automatically detachable catch adapted to prevent the operation of said releasing mechanism, and means for holding said detachable catch in its operating position.

9. In a grenade, the combination of a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device for said firing mechanism, an automatically detachable catch adapted to prevent the operation of said releasing mechanism, and a manually operable means for holding said catch in its operative position and releasing it therefrom.

10. A grenade comprising a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device for the firing mechanism, means for actuating the releasing device, a train of gears connected to and moved by said releasing device, and means for retarding the movement of said train of gears, whereby the releasing device is caused to move slowly and gradually to its releasing position.

11. In a grenade, a firing pin, an arm adapted to engage said pin, a weight adapted to actuate said arm, and a safety pin adapted to hold said arm in fixed position, whereby when said pin is removed the device will operate on impact, and time-controlled means for slowly moving said pin.

12. In a grenade, a firing pin, an arm adapted to engage said pin, a weight adapted to actuate said arm, and a safety pin adapted to hold said arm in fixed position, whereby when said pin is removed the device will 0 erate on impact, a manually operable catci for holding said pin in its engaging position, and time-controlled means for slowly moving said pin.

13. In a grenade, an impact firing mechanism, a catch device adapted to be grasped by the hand for holding said firing mechanism inoperative, and a manually operable lock for said catch, said lock having a part adapted to be operated by the finger in the act of throwing.

14. A grenade comprising a firing mechanism of the impact type, a releasing device for said firing mechanism, means for actuating the releasing device, a train of gears connected to and moved by the releasing device, and a fan acting to retard the movement of said train of gears, and thereby to cause a gradual and slow movement of the releasing device to releasing position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AXEL G. BERGMAN.

Witnesses:

GRACE GUNDERMAN, T. F. WALLACE. 

